JPH0217527A - Data processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effectively use a printer by transferring and executing a prescribed job except a printing job from a host computer while a printer is in the printing job input waiting condition. CONSTITUTION:A laser beam printer is composed of a picture supplying device 11, a recording part 12, a power source control device 13 and a panel 14. The picture supplying device 11 is connected to a host computer by the standard of a LAN and the like and executes the processing action to prepare the raster scanning data based on the input data. The recording part 12 receives the supply of the raster scanning data, outputs them as a hard copy and the panel 14 displays the data to be outputted. When the printer is in the printing job input waiting condition, the prescribed job except the printing job is transferred and executed from the host computer. Thus, even when the printing processing is not executed, the said printer can be used.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a data processing system, and in particular, to a data processing system comprising at least a host computer that performs various data processing and a printer device connected to the host computer. The present invention relates to data processing systems.

(Prior Art) A laser beam printer, etc. that creates raster scan data, etc. based on data output from a host computer such as a workstation or word processor, and performs processing to create a notebook (hereinafter referred to as a print job). Printer devices are configured with high-performance hardware due to an increase in the amount of data to be processed due to higher resolution of output images, and a demand for faster data processing due to improved printing speed.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) In the conventional printer device as described above, when print data is not output from the host computer and no print job is being executed, the printer device is in a state of waiting for input of a print job. Become. In this case, the hardware (resources) of the printer device is not being utilized.

In other words, in the conventional data processing system, the high-performance resources of the printer device are not effectively utilized, which is uneconomical.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems.

(Means and Effects for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides that when a printer device is in a state of waiting for a print job input, a host computer sends a print job to the printer device other than a print job. The present invention is characterized in that a predetermined job is transferred and the printer is caused to execute the job.

This allows the resources of the printer device to be utilized even when the printer device is not performing print processing.

(Example) The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an example of a printer device applied to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the printer device is a laser beam printer.

As shown in FIG. 2, the laser beam printer basically comprises an image supply device 11, a recording section 12, a power supply control device 13, and a panel 14.

The image supply device 11 is connected to a workstation, a personal computer, etc. (hereinafter referred to as a host computer) (not shown) using a standard such as R8232C or LAN.

This image supply device 11 creates raster scan data using image data input from the host computer based on instructions from the host computer or data input manually via the panel 14, or creates raster scan data using the image data input from the host computer. Using data other than the image data inputted by the controller, processing operations as described later with reference to FIG. 7 are performed.

The recording unit 12 receives raster scan data created by the image supply device 11 and outputs the data as a hard copy.

Between the image supply device 11 and the recording unit 12, a video signal (monochrome image signal, that is, a video stream), a V clock signal synchronized with the video signal, and a line synchronized with the -line video signal are provided. A sync signal, command signals, and status signals (signals indicating the status of the host computer and printer device, signals indicating various command data, etc.) are exchanged.

The panel 14 includes a data input means configured to input data to the image supply device 11;
and display means for displaying data output from the host computer.

The power supply control device 13 controls the voltage or current to be supplied to the image supply device 11 and the recording section 12.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the image supply device 11. As shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes an interface section that connects the printer device 1t and a host computer for bidirectional communication according to standards such as R8232C and LAN.

2 is a controller unit that performs system control of the image supplying device 11, and includes a CPU such as 80186°68000.
21, RAM 22, program ROM 23, timer 24
and a direct memory access controller 25.

3 is a character pattern ROM in which various patterns such as characters and symbols are stored; 4 is a bitmap memory; and 5 is a recording section 12.
A timing controller 6 synchronizes video signals between the character pattern ROM 3 and the bitmap memory 4, as shown in FIG. and 7 a memory controller that controls the timing of access to the bitmap memo IJ4.

Further, 8 is a panel interface connected to the panel 14 (FIG. 2), and 9 is a CPU bus.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the recording section 12.

In FIG. 4, a laser beam 52 generated from a laser transmitter 51 passes through a polarizer 53 and a laser beam modulator 54.
After passing through a polarizer 55 , the light is reflected by a polygon mirror 56 , passes through a lens 57 , and reaches the outer peripheral surface of a photosensitive drum 58 . The video signal output from the image supply device 11 shown in FIG.
4, whereby the plane of polarization of the laser beam passing through the laser beam modulator 54 is changed in accordance with the video signal by, for example, an electro-optic effect.

By this so-called electric shutter action, a black and white binary video signal is converted into an optical on/off signal for a laser beam, and the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 58 is irradiated with the optical on/off signal. The polygon mirror 56 is rotated at a constant speed by a motor 62, and after reflecting the laser beam 52,
Scan in the direction of arrow 63.

The photosensitive drum 58 rotates in the direction of an arrow 65 while one line of video signal is optically converted and irradiated in a direction parallel to the rotation axis 64 of the photosensitive drum 58.

In this way, an image of the same type as that formed in the bitmap memory 4 (FIG. 3) is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 58.

This electrostatic latent image passes through a developing device 66 as the photosensitive drum 58 rotates in the direction of an arrow 65. Here, the toner is distributed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 58 depending on the electrostatic latent image.

When the recording paper 67 is fed in the direction of an arrow 68 by a recording paper transport mechanism (not shown), the toner attached to the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum 58 is removed from the recording paper 67 by the action of the transfer device 69.
7 is transferred. By further feeding this recording paper 67 in the direction of arrow 68, processing such as fixing is performed on the recording paper 67, thereby obtaining a hard copy.

Note that the laser beam 52 is scanned in the direction of the arrow 63 with a width exceeding both ends of the photosensitive drum 58.

Therefore, the scanning start sensor 71 and the scanning end sensor 72 detect the passing of the laser beam, and the timing of video signal transfer is determined by this detection pulse.

Next, an example of the operation of the present invention will be explained. In this example, when a host computer manually writes a program in a predetermined language, the printer is caused to compile the program when the printer is not performing a print job.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the host computer applied to one embodiment of the present invention.

First, in step S1, it is determined whether the manual mode of the host computer is an image data editing mode. If it is the edit mode, step S2
Editing work is performed in step S1, and after the editing is completed, the process returns to step S1.

In this case, the editing data is transferred to the printer device as necessary.

If it is not the editing mode, it is determined in step S3 whether the input mode of the host computer is the manual input mode of the program.

If it is the nibite mode, nibite processing is performed in non-chip S4. After this process is completed, step S
In step 5, it is determined whether a background job has been designated for the host computer. This background job is a job that causes the printer device to execute compilation when the printer device is not performing a print job when the boot program is manually executed from the host computer.This background job is specified by the input means ( Panel 1 of Figure 2
4) Performed using a more appropriate method.

If a background job has not been specified, compilation is performed in step S6, and then the process returns to step S1.

If a background job has been specified, it is determined in step S7 whether or not the printer device connected to the host computer is waiting for data input. This determination involves sending an inquiry code to the printer, interrupting the printer's CPU, and receiving a signal from the printer regarding the status of the printer, that is, whether or not the printer is executing a job. This can be done by outputting. The transmission and reception of this inquiry code will be described later with reference to FIG.

If the printer device is executing some job, that is, if it is not in a data input waiting state, step S6
Compilation is performed in step S1, and then the process returns to step S1.

If the printer device is in a state of waiting for data input, program data, compiler data, etc. are transmitted to the printer device in step S8.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the format of data sent from the host computer to the printer device in step S8.

In FIG. 6, control data 83 for separating and identifying the source 82 and the compiler 84 is arranged between the source (input program data) 82 and the compiler 84, and furthermore, the data 81 is arranged before and after the source 82 and the compiler 84. and footer data 85 are added. In the following description, data in the format shown in FIG. 6 will be referred to as source data.

The configurations of the header data 81, control data 83, and footer data 85 can be easily created by those skilled in the art, so a description thereof will be omitted.

Returning to FIG. 5, after the process of step S8 is completed,
The process returns to step S1.

If it is determined in step S3 that the input mode is not the nib mode, then in step S9 a job is executed according to the mode set in the host computer.

This job can be, for example, a process of executing data compiled by a printer device.

The printer device connected to this host computer is
When data is output from the host computer, the seventh
Perform the actions shown in the diagram.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer device connected to the host computer.

First, in step Sll, the type of job data output from the host computer is determined. Job data is compiled job (i.e. source etc. data)
If so, compilation is executed in step S12. After the compilation is completed, the object file (compilation result) is sent to the host computer in step S13. After that, the process returns to step Sll.

When it is determined in step Sll that the job data is not a compile job, that is, when it is determined that the job data is a print job, step Sll is performed.
At step 14, the job is executed. After the execution of the print job is completed, the process returns to step Sll.

As will be described later with reference to FIG. 1, this printer constantly monitors the inquiry code output from the host computer, and if the inquiry code is detected, the printer sends a message to the CPU of the printer. The printer is configured to issue an interrupt, determine the operating state of the printer, and output the result to the host computer.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the area to the right of the broken line A represents a host computer, and the area to the left of the broken line A represents a printer device.

First, the functions of the host computer will be explained.

In FIG. 1, data input means 201 and data output means 203 correspond to the keyboard and display device of the host computer, respectively.

The data manual means 201 includes the image data editing means 20
Connected to 2. The image data editing means 202 edits data such as characters and figures input manually from the data input means 201. This image data editing means 202 is
It may also be a text editing function of a word processor.

The beginning of the data edited by the image data editing means 202 includes an identification code indicating that the data is data to be input to the image supply means 105, which will be described later.

The data outputted from the image data editing means 202 is outputted to the data outputting means 203, and furthermore, when the editing of the data is completed, the data is outputted to the job determination means 103 and the arithmetic processing means 104 of the printer device.

The data manual means 201 further includes a nibite data storage means 215 and a nibite end detection means 204, and the nibite data storage means 215 has a switching means 213.
It is connected to the. The switching means 213 is normally connected to the nibite data storage means 215 and the compiling means 205. That is, in this example,
The common contact of switching means 213 is normally connected to contact B.

The compiling means 205 includes the data input means 20
1, a program is input (nibbed) in C language, for example, to the nibite data storage means 215, and when nibuit data (source) is read from the nibite data storage means 215, the data is compiled. The compiling means 205 is connected to a memory device 206, the memory device 206 is connected to an arithmetic means 207, and the arithmetic means 207 is connected to the data output means 203. The calculation means 207 executes a program stored in the memory device 206.

The background job setting unit 209 is a unit for setting whether or not to cause the printer device to execute compiling processing. In the following description, the compilation process executed by the printer device will be referred to as a background job.

A signal specifying a background job set by the background job setting means 209 and a nibuit end signal J output from the nibuit end detecting means 204 are supplied to a pair of input terminals of an AND gate 212. The nibite end detection means 204 detects a signal input from the data input means 201 indicating the nibite end or compilation start, and generates a nibite end signal J.

When a background job is set by the background job setting means 209, the signal thereof is output to the switching means 213, and the common contact of the switching means 213 is connected to the contact C.

The output signal of the AND gate 212 is output to the inquiry code transmitting means 210. The inquiry code transmitting means 210 causes the CPU of the printer to perform interrupt processing, and outputs a signal (inquiry code) to the printer to cause the printer to check its operating status.

As will be described later, upon receiving the inquiry code, the printer outputs a signal indicating the operating status of the printer to the host computer.

The operating state determining means 211 of the host computer is
Upon receiving a signal output from the printer device indicating the operating status of the printer device, it is determined whether the printer device is in a state of waiting for data input.

The switching means 214 has a common contact connected to the contact C of the switching means 213, a contact 214 connected to the format creation means 208, and a contact F connected to the compiling means 205.

Further, this switching means 214 is normally connected to contact E.

The switching means 214 is the operating state determining means 21
If a signal indicating that the printer device is in a state of waiting for data input is output by 1, the common contact is connected to the contact, and a signal is output that the printer device is not in a state of waiting for data input. If so, connect the common contact to contact F.

Further, the nibite data storage means 215 reads out nibite data when a signal is output from the operating state determining means 211.

When the format creation means 208 is connected to the NIBIT data storage means 215, it receives the NIBIT data from the NIBIT data storage means 215, and also receives the compiler from the compiling means 205.
Create the source data shown in the figure. This source data is output to the job determining means 103 and the arithmetic processing means 104 of the printer device.

Note that the source data 81 (FIG. 6) includes an operator stage 106 (described later).
An identification code indicating that the data should be input is included.

The printer device receives the data, compiles the program data, and outputs the result to the memory device 206 of the host computer.

Thereafter, the program data is executed in the calculation means 207.

Next, the functions of the printer device will be explained.

When an inquiry code is output from a host computer having the above-mentioned functions, this code is identified by inquiry code identification means 101, and operation status code generation means 102 is activated. This operating status code generating means 1
02 sends a signal indicating that the printer device is in a state of waiting for data input when none of the recording section 12, the arithmetic processing means 104, and the object data transmission means 107 are operating; Arithmetic processing means 10
4 and object data transmitting means 107, a signal indicating that the printer device is not in a data input waiting state is output to the operating state determining means 211.

Identification of the inquiry code by the inquiry code identification means 101 and generation of a signal indicating whether data input is being waited for by the operation status code generation means 102 are performed by interrupt processing of the CPU of the printer device.

The job determination means 103 includes the image data editing means 202,
Alternatively, using the identification code of the data output from the format creation means 208, it is determined whether the data is source data or image output data. The job determining means 103 activates the image supply means 105 of the arithmetic processing means 104 when it determines image output data, and activates the image supplying means 105 of the arithmetic processing means 104 when it determines source data etc. Of these, the calculation means 106 is energized.

Here, the arithmetic processing means 104 corresponds to the image supply device 11 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

That is, when the image supply means 105 is activated by the job determination means 103, the image supply device 11 functions as the image supply means 105, and the image output data is converted into raster scan data. Also, the calculation means 10
6 is activated, the image supply device 11 functions as the calculation means 106, and source data etc. are compiled.

In this case, the character pattern ROM 3, timing controller 5, image handler 6, etc. do not operate.

Note that when the data supplied from the host computer is image data, the data is first stored in the RAM shown in FIG.
The raster scan data stored in the bitmap memory 22 and created using the data is stored in the bitmap memory 4.

Even when the data supplied from the host computer is compiling data, the data is stored in the RAM 22, and further stored in the bitmap memory 4 when the RAM 22 is full.

Processing control of the various data is performed by the CPU 21.

When the compiling is completed by the calculation means 106, the compiled program data (object data) is output to the memory device 206 of the host computer via the object data transmission means 107.

Furthermore, when rask scan data is created using the image supply data 105, the data is transferred to the recording unit 12.

In this way, when the printer is in the input waiting state, the printer is made to execute the compilation, so the host computer can immediately start other processing after transferring source data to the printer. can be executed. As a result, the processing speed of the host computer is improved, and the resources of the printer device can be effectively utilized.

Now, in the above description, it is assumed that the host computer is provided with the background job setting means 209, but the background job setting means 209
does not need to be specifically provided. In other words, when the printer device is in a state of waiting for data (job) input, the printer device may always be made to execute compiling.

Further, the beginning of the data edited by the image data editing means 202 includes an identification code indicating that the data is data that should be manually input to the image supplying means 105, and the job determining means 103 The description has been made assuming that the identification code is used to determine that the data is source data or the like.

However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and does not add an identification code to the beginning of the image data edited by the image data editing means 202 or the beginning of the source data, etc. If the identification code is not detected even though data is input from the host computer, the data may be determined to be image data or source data.

Further, the printer device is provided with a button for setting the function of the calculation processing means 104, and by operating the button, it is set in advance whether the calculation processing means 104 functions as the image supplying means 105 or the calculation means 106. You may also do this. In this case, there is no need to add an identification code to the beginning of the image data or the beginning of the source data, and there is no need to provide the arithmetic processing means 104.

Furthermore, in the above description, it was assumed that the source, compiler, etc. are transferred to the printer device in order to cause the printer device to execute the compilation process, but the present invention is not particularly limited to this. The compiler is stored in the printer device's ROM (program R in Figure 2) in advance.
If it is registered in the OM 23), it is sufficient to transfer the nib data (source) to the printer device.

Furthermore, the job to be executed by the printer device is not limited to only print jobs and compile jobs, but may be any type of job.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, when the printer device is not performing the original processing, in other words, the image data cannot be processed by rask scan conversion processing or printing processing. Since the printer device is configured to execute the job to be processed by the host computer when the job is not executed, the following effects are achieved.

That is, the resources of the printer device can be used effectively, and as a result, the processing speed of the host computer and, ultimately, the data processing system can be increased.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an example of a printer device applied to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image supply device shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the recording section shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the host computer applied to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the format of source data transmitted from the host computer to the printer device. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer device connected to the host computer. 101... Inquiry code identification means, 102... Operation status code generation means, 103... Job discrimination means,
104... Arithmetic processing means, 105... Image supply means, 106... Arithmetic means, 107... Object data transmission means, 201... Data manual means, 205.
... Compilation means, 208 ... Format creation means, 209 ... Background job setting means, 2
10... Inquiry code transmitting means, 211... Operating state determining means, 213.214... Switching means Patent attorney Michito Hiraki and one other person Fig.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A data processing system comprising at least one host computer and at least one printer device connected to the host computer and having arithmetic processing means, wherein the host computer is configured such that the printer device is waiting for data input. an inquiry code transmitting unit that sends an inquiry code to the printer to cause the printer to detect whether or not the printer is waiting for data input; an operation state determining unit that determines the operating state of the printer; means for sending a predetermined job to the printer device when the printer is in a state of an operating state code generating means for determining the operating state of the printer device and sending the result to the operating state determining means; and an operating state code generating means for energizing the arithmetic processing means in accordance with a job output from the host computer. 1. A data processing system comprising: job determining means; and means for transferring data after the execution of the job is finished to the host computer after the execution of the job is finished by the arithmetic processing means.